The Oblivion Express

Update: a "diary" based on this post is featured for "diary rescue" at Daily Kos.


Are we moving towards utopia, or oblivion? What does the national mood ring say? It may tell us a lot about how we approach particular issues, where our energy and attention goes.
Via T. Goddard's Political Wire, there's this:

Washington Wire highlights evidence of a growing long-term deep funk among Americans in the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll: "Among the six-in-10 Americans who say country is 'on the wrong track,' most see 'long-term decline.' More than two-thirds of those over 50 aren’t confident life will improve for 'our children’s generation'; 62% of those under 35 agree. Americans are especially gloomy about the environment, health care, public morals and housing costs; nearly eight in 10 expect college to become less affordable. By 47%-24%, Americans fear the quality of jobs in the U.S. will get worse."

It could be influenced by conspicuous warfare, and by the general aging of the population. Or it could be simple observation of the growing divide between superrich and everyone else, and all that means to most people, as the Bush administration has made clear which side its on.

The Democrats last week came forward with their six issues for 06 under the banner of A New Direction for America, or something equally forgettable. While the issues are worthy, the whole thing seems to lack imagination and certainly daring. But that's explicable from the first of the six items: national security.

The Democrats are in a defensive posture, still worried they lost in 04 because Bush convinced the country he could keep them safer, despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. And every time the Democrats get out of the administration line on war issues, some Republican is warning that they're throwing the election away, if not being flat out unpatriotic.

Security is of course a primary function of the federal government. But stopping there freezes us into a defensive and inherently risk averse posture. Unfortunately, people see what's going on: things are falling apart. We don't need terrorists from elsewhere to destroy what Americans have had, we're letting it happen slowly but surely.

My instincts about the next election are contrary to the posture and direction the Dems are officially taking. I see a lot of "re" words working, like renewal and responsibility. But most of all I see the need for a vision of the future that offers some hope, some real direction--not an empty slogan. America, the world, is ready (or soon will be) to move away from oblivion, but the only way to do that is to move towards utopia. Utopia doesn't mean a perfect society, but it does mean a better one--one that is more attuned to current and future needs, and making use of new knowledge and approach.

It's a risk. But the right mix of reassurance and vision for the future could be the inspiration we need. In any case, we need a vision, and the leadership to get us started on that road to the future. The choice is utopia or oblivion. At least for the past half century, it always has been.